Each week through the end of the regular season, we’ll check in on where I think the major individual awards races stand. This week, with a little more than a week left in the season, it feels like a good time to check in on the All-Defensive and All-Rookie possibilities.
Here’s how the Awards Watch shakes out: Since 2019, I have been one of the media members selected to vote on the annual awards. It’s an honor I take very seriously, as I strive to select the players I believe are most deserving. With it being public, I also don’t want to end up getting meme’d to eternity for casting a ridiculous vote. This analysis is a pretty good gauge of my thoughts/research and those opinions submitted by other writers and readers of The Athletic.
As is the case with all types of rankings and opinions on the internet, I’m sure this will be met with agreements and handshakes rather than yelling and name-calling. If you have a differing opinion, drop those in the comments. Let’s just get this out of the way first:
- Yes, I watch the games.
- Yes, I have looked at the numbers.
- No, I don’t hate that player.
- No, I don’t hate that team.
- If you have a differing opinion and want to roast me, by all means, have at it. Just try to have a point that makes sense. I’m less interested in your bias toward your favorite player or team, but I am very interested in a possible perspective that I have missed or haven’t considered enough. I’m all about acquiring as much information and as many opinions as possible for these awards.
- With each award section, I’m going to give my criteria for how it should be considered while taking my thoughts and what I feel the award has historically emphasized in voting into consideration.
- Don’t forget the 65-game rule! Players who don’t get to 65 games in a season are not eligible for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year or Most Improved Player.
Let’s get into it.
All-Defensive First Team
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama is running away with Defensive Player of the Year, so obviously, he’s going to be on the All-Defensive First Team. Back in 2012 and again in 2013, the Defensive Player of the Year actually did not make the All-Defensive First Team. They were named to the Second Team. Marc Gasol won the award in 2013, but Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah tied for the big man spot on the First Team. Chandler won the award in 2012 but was also on the Second Team. Dwight Howard made it over him as the center. We also had this in 1995 with Dikembe Mutombo (David Robinson over him) winning the award and Alvin Robertson in 1986 (likely lost out to Sidney Moncrief for the First Team voting).
That won’t happen anymore … I think? The reason for it back then was that coaches voted for All-Defensive teams, and the media voted for DPOY. Since 2014, the media have voted for both. Also, keep in mind that these teams are now positionless.
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
There are better defenders on the Thunder, which is not a knock on Holmgren. But he might be their most important defender this season, which is why he was the betting favorite for DPOY in the middle of the season. The Thunder have a lot of guys like Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace who can really put pressure on the perimeter. Jalen Williams (when healthy) is an All-Defensive player. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great defensive player. But a big part of why they can be so aggressive on the perimeter is knowing Holmgren is back there to clean up any spillage. His shot-blocking timing has become elite, and he’s not getting pushed around nearly as much as he used to. His positioning has improved, and the Thunder continue to be the No. 1 defense because of all this working in a symbiotic way.
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
During the first half of the season, a lot of people were arguing that Gobert could be on his way to a record fifth DPOY award. He’s currently tied with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace with four. But then, Wembanyama came back from injury and was just better. However, Gobert has been excellent defensively for most of this season. He’s defended in space extremely well, which is something he often gets skewered for online. He can still look funny trying to move his feet against perimeter guys, but he’s able to make up for a lot of it with his timing and wingspan. The Wolves are top five in the league in defensive rating because of Gobert. Their defensive rating drops by 7.6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the bench.
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Erik Spoelstra is almost always going to coach an elite defense, but the Heat have remained a top-10 defense this season despite dramatically changing their style of play. When it was a grind-it-out style with limited possessions, the Heat were constantly relying on Adebayo to set the tone, cover everything and keep them focused in these slogs of games. Now that the Heat have thrown their pace into warp speed, they’re still one of the better defensive teams in the NBA. That’s not easy to do in the organized chaos of such a fast style of play. Adebayo is the guy who keeps it all together. He can guard anybody in the league. He can play big or small. He covers every area of the floor.
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Barnes is one of the league’s most impressive individual defenders. He can guard pretty much anybody anywhere, and the Raptors have gone to some pretty small lineups (height-wise) because of his ability to adapt. Defense has fueled the Raptors’ success this season. They’re seventh in the NBA, and a big part of that is that Barnes being so disruptive. He’s quick enough to shut down a primary scorer and help where the ball gets swung but can still stick to his man enough that the re-catch is not a big threat to Toronto. Sometimes, it feels like there are two of him out there.
All-Defensive Second Team
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Thompson is the toughest player to keep off the First Team. He was a no-brainer last year and even had some people wondering if he should win Defensive Player of the Year. Defense is such a difficult thing to parse out from the elite defensive players vying for these top honors because there aren’t great stats and metrics for it. When it comes to judging someone like Thompson, just watch how he defends. Thompson is so quick and physical. He seemingly cuts off the next move before the offensive player even knows they’re about to try it. And guys constantly have to pick up their dribble and find a teammate because they’re out of ideas. He makes you quit possessions so much.
Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder
Maybe it’s wrong to pick between Wallace and Dort, but essentially, that’s what I’m doing. Funny enough, Caruso does not qualify for this award because 1) he won’t get to 65 games, and 2) even if he did, he doesn’t get the requisite 20 minutes per game to qualify with the games he does play. Wallace gets the nod over Dort because of games (Wallace has played 10 more games) and minutes played (he has over 200 minutes more than Dort). That ended up being the tiebreaker between the two. Wallace is one of the most disruptive players at the point of attack, and he’s tremendous at swarming in help. He creates a lot of turnovers and doesn’t get cheap steals in the slightest.
OKC’s Cason Wallace clamps down on Detroit’s Kevin Huerter in a matchup between the No. 1 seeds in each conference. (Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
White is another player who’s tough to keep off the First Team, but there just isn’t any room at the inn. His defensive instincts and understanding are some of the highest in the league. He’s a brilliant defender all over the floor. Shots at the rim aren’t safe with him around. He navigates screens like he’s in liquid form. White is one of the best at moving his feet and cutting off a drive without needing to play physical defense, but he can also thrive playing physical defense. And the Celtics’ defense has completely fallen apart this season without him on the floor.
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
He’s also an extraordinary defender! Just like his brother. He’s been so good in this physical system installed by J.B. Bickerstaff, and he’s mostly defending like a 10-year veteran. He gets about a block per game, and it feels like he’s usually catching unsuspecting jump shooters with his timing on these. He’s leading the league in steals per game at 2.0, but he also just disrupts so many actions at the point of attack. You can see opponents spending half their shot clocks trying to get Thompson to switch away from their top scorer, and he’s excellent at navigating screens to make that a tall task.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
There are a lot of other tremendous defenders up for consideration, but ultimately, it’s pretty impossible to leave Green off this list. This team defense was built around Green’s orchestration and Jimmy Butler’s ability to fill in everywhere. Butler’s season ended in mid-January with the ACL tear, and now, it’s just Green out there trying to keep it all together. He has so much responsibility, and he covers it all. He’s great at disrupting around the rim. He cuts off the paint. He switches onto anybody. He defends giants in the league. Green’s defensive execution is old news at this point, but it’s still elite. Maybe you knock him because his team’s defense is around league average, but he’s the reason they have continued success.
Toughest omissions: Dyson Daniels (Atlanta), Dort (OKC), Jalen Duren (Detroit), Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota)
All-Rookie First Team
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
I mean … duh. Flagg has been one of the most impressive teenagers the NBA has ever seen. He’s set record after record. And he might still win Rookie of the Year, although it looks like he’ll finish second. Flagg can play defense pretty well for a teenage rookie. His clutch scoring has been a big surprise to happen so early. He’s learned how to be a good playmaker. He rebounds. Flagg is the real deal.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Knueppel is probably the Rookie of the Year, which nobody had going into this season. He’s one of the best shooters in the Association already. His defense has been pretty solid. He moves the ball and creates chaos with his movement. Knueppel’s all-around game has him in position to be a franchise piece moving forward.
VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
Most seasons, Edgecombe would be heavily in the running for ROY. He just happens to be a rookie in the season with Flagg and Knueppel dominating consideration. But Edgecombe has been perfect for Philadelphia. He helped create a very dynamic backcourt with Tyrese Maxey, setting the tone and identity for this Sixers team as it transitions from being centered around Joel Embiid. Edgecombe makes so many spectacular plays on both ends of the floor. He’s an easy selection.
Derik Queen drives through the Toronto defense. (Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Queen has certainly tailed off from the first few months of his rookie campaign, especially as the Pelicans have become more serious about trying to win games in the second half. But he’s done enough to earn this honor. Queen can really score, and he’s a very good passer. He’s displayed skills that prove his strengths transfer to the NBA level.
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
He’s not getting the pub that his other classmates are getting, but Harper might be my favorite rookie to watch. His ability to change speeds, play with pace and finish around the rim makes him look like he’s been in the league for almost a decade. Harper has a great understanding of where to fill in the gaps on the court and when to take charge on offense. The Spurs have a lot of great young players, but Harper is already making some wonder if they even need De’Aaron Fox and his contract moving forward.
All-Rookie Second Team
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
The 3-point shooting didn’t hold up, but Coward has played exceptional basketball considering the conditions in Memphis. Much like Jaylen Wells last year, Coward has been thrust into a much bigger responsibility than you expected him to have. He’s a tough one to keep off the First Team, but someone had to get left off.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
Bailey is another guy who is tough to keep from the First Team. He came into the NBA with a ton of uncertainty, really through no fault of his own, and his image took a hit right away. But his play for the Jazz has delivered on showing that potential. Bailey has been up and down from month to month. That probably keeps him from the First Team, but he can really score and really play.
Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
The shooting numbers and efficiency aren’t there for Fears, but he’s had enough moments to show he’s a starting point guard in this league. It looks like he’s finishing the season strong, and you’d like to see him carry that over into next year.
Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings
Yes, a second-round pick makes it! The Kings have been a mess, and Domantas Sabonis missed most of the season. Raynaud has benefited a lot from that. The 42nd pick has shown a lot of ability to do different things. He’s flashed a jumper. He can pass it. And he is really good at scoring around the rim and in the paint. Raynaud’s had some big games, and he deserves a spot.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
Murray-Boyles has done enough and played just enough to give him the nod over a couple of other rookies. His numbers won’t blow you away, but he’s been trustworthy enough on defense to play a lot of center for the Raptors, despite being listed at 6-foot-7. Murray-Boyles looks like he can be a quintessential glue guy.
Toughest omissions: Tre Johnson (Washington), Hugo González (Boston), Sion James (Charlotte), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Charlotte), Nique Clifford (Sacramento)